Abstract: Techniques in a mobile communication device for communicating with a wireless access point (AP) are described. The mobile device receives from the AP data which indicate a plurality of activated service intervals in the superframe that are made available to mobile devices for communication access. The mobile device attempts to access, during the indicated activated service intervals, a radio medium via the AP. The mobile device refrains from attempting to access the radio medium via the AP during each power conservation interval provided in between the indicated activated service intervals.

Abstract: Techniques in a mobile device for use in initiating vertical handover of a voice or a data call between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wide area wireless network (WWAN) are described. The mobile device performs communication operations for maintaining the voice or the data call via the WLAN or the WWAN. During the voice or the data call, the mobile device identifies a WLAN signal quality value of signals with the WLAN, as well as a WWAN signal quality value of signals with the WWAN. The mobile device then performs a comparative evaluation of the WLAN and the WWAN signal quality values, and initiates a vertical handover of the voice or the data call between the WLAN and the WWAN based on the comparative evaluation of the WLAN and WWAN signal quality values. The comparative evaluation may involve calculating a signal indicator value which is based on a ratio of the WLAN and the WWAN signal quality values.

Abstract: In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans a connection profile storing the credentials provided by the mobile station when initiating the failed authentication process, thus affecting how subsequent scans—other than discovery scans—and connection attempts are handled. In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans or suppresses an access point with which the mobile station initiated the failed authentication process. The mobile station refrains from transmitting any communications addressed to the unique identifier of any banned access point. The mobile station may ignore any communications received from a banned access point. Suppressed access points are occasionally not made available to the mobile station for selection as a target for a connection attempt.

Abstract: An Access Point (AP) advertises the availability of notifications, and this advertisement may be received and interpreted by stations (STAs), both by associated STAs and by non-associated STAs. Upon being informed of the availability of the notification message, a STA may be able to identify the notification message by analyzing the advertisement. If the contents of the notification message comprise a control message, the STA may act on the control message in a way that influences the STA's behavior. If the contents of the notification message indicate restrictions imposed by the AP, the STA may determine, in view of the restrictions, not to attempt association with the AP.

Abstract: A method is presented for adapting the packet size for VoIP communications, determined on-the-fly by the total network delay inherent at the time of packet transmission. If network delays are small relative to the maximum permissible latency for VoIP communications, the payload size per packet may be increased to maximize efficiency for the transmitted call. Alternatively, if network delays are large, the payload size per packet may be decreased in order to assure that the perceived quality of the transmitted call is acceptable.

Abstract: A power reduction mechanism in a mobile communications device detects the use of a wrong WEP encryption key in the establishment of a WLAN connection between the mobile device and an access point for both static and dynamic IP WLAN profiles. The power reduction mechanism detects an incorrect WEP key; authentication failure; failure to acquire an IP address for dynamic IP WLAN profiles; decryption errors; and broadcast/multicast frames from the handset not being redirected back to the BSS by the AP. Upon such detection, the mobile device takes one or more power conserving actions, e.g., adding the AP/profile to a ban list; attempting WLAN association for a banned AP/profile at longer intervals than for a non-banned AP/profile; skipping an AP/profile on the ban list for a time duration defined by a timer to conserve power; and flagging the banned AP/profile with a special mark to indicate it is banned.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage wireless device power consumption are disclosed. In accordance with a disclosed example method a data frame exchange is initiated with an access point of a wireless network. In response to not successfully completing the frame exchange with the access point, the access point is designated as providing the wireless terminal with fringe wireless signal coverage.

Abstract: Techniques in a mobile communication device for communicating with a wireless access point (AP) are described. The mobile device receives from the AP data which indicate a plurality of activated service intervals in the superframe that are made available to mobile devices for communication access. The mobile device attempts to access, during the indicated activated service intervals, a radio medium via the AP. The mobile device refrains from attempting to access the radio medium via the AP during each power conservation interval provided in between the indicated activated service intervals.

Abstract: Techniques in a mobile device for use in initiating vertical handover of a voice or a data call between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wide area wireless network (WWAN) are described. The mobile device performs communication operations for maintaining the voice or the data call via the WLAN or the WWAN. During the voice or the data call, the mobile device identifies a WLAN signal quality value of signals with the WLAN, as well as a WWAN signal quality value of signals with the WWAN. The mobile device then performs a comparative evaluation of the WLAN and the WWAN signal quality values, and initiates a vertical handover of the voice or the data call between the WLAN and the WWAN based on the comparative evaluation of the WLAN and WWAN signal quality values. The comparative evaluation may involve calculating a signal indicator value which is based on a ratio of the WLAN and the WWAN signal quality values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a wireless access point (AP) (e.g. a battery-powered wireless AP) for reduced power consumption are provided. In one illustrative example, the AP is adapted to provide communication access for end stations in one or more activated service intervals of each superframe. During operation, the AP changes the number of activated service intervals that are available to end stations for the communication access, as well as the durations of their active subinterval durations, in accordance with a change in traffic requirements. The AP regularly broadcasts data which indicates the activated service intervals that are made available to the mobile devices. A wireless transceiver of the AP is enabled during each activated service interval made available to the mobile devices, but the AP is placed in a power conservation mode during each deactivated service interval provided in between the activated service intervals.

Abstract: An Access Point (AP) advertises the availability of notifications, and this advertisement may be received and interpreted by stations (STAs), both by associated STAs and by non-associated STAs. Upon being informed of the availability of the notification message, a STA may be able to identify the notification message by analyzing the advertisement. If the contents of the notification message comprise a control message, the STA may act on the control message in a way that influences the STA's behavior. If the contents of the notification message indicate restrictions imposed by the AP, the STA may determine, in view of the restrictions, not to attempt association with the AP.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage wireless device power consumption are disclosed. In accordance with a disclosed example method a data frame exchange is initiated with an access point of a wireless network. In response to not successfully completing the frame exchange with the access point, the access point is designated as providing the wireless terminal with fringe wireless signal coverage.

Abstract: A power reduction mechanism in a mobile communications device detects the use of a wrong WEP encryption key in the establishment of a WLAN connection between the mobile device and an access point for both static and dynamic IP WLAN profiles. The power reduction mechanism detects an incorrect WEP key; authentication failure; failure to acquire an IP address for dynamic IP WLAN profiles; decryption errors; and broadcast/multicast frames from the handset not being redirected back to the BSS by the AP. Upon such detection, the mobile device takes one or more power conserving actions, e.g., adding the AP/profile to a ban list; attempting WLAN association for a banned AP/profile at longer intervals than for a non-banned AP/profile; skipping an AP/profile on the ban list for a time duration defined by a timer to conserve power; and flagging the banned AP/profile with a special mark to indicate it is banned.

Abstract: In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans a connection profile storing the credentials provided by the mobile station when initiating the failed authentication process, thus affecting how subsequent scans—other than discovery scans—and connection attempts are handled. In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans or suppresses an access point with which the mobile station initiated the failed authentication process. The mobile station refrains from transmitting any communications addressed to the unique identifier of any banned access point. The mobile station may ignore any communications received from a banned access point. Suppressed access points are occasionally not made available to the mobile station for selection as a target for a connection attempt.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a wireless access point (AP) (e.g. a battery-powered wireless AP) for reduced power consumption are provided. In one illustrative example, the AP is adapted to provide communication access for end stations in one or more activated service intervals of each superframe. During operation, the AP changes the number of activated service intervals that are available to end stations for the communication access, as well as the durations of their active subinterval durations, in accordance with a change in traffic requirements. The AP regularly broadcasts data which indicates the activated service intervals that are made available to the mobile devices. A wireless transceiver of the AP is enabled during each activated service interval made available to the mobile devices, but the AP is placed in a power conservation mode during each deactivated service interval provided in between the activated service intervals.